b-solutions
Solving Cross-Border Obstacles
The b-solutions project, an initiative launched by the European Commission’s DG REGIO and managed by the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR), focuses on resolving the legal and administrative barriers that hinder cross-border cooperation within the EU. It provides an opportunity to gather information through a bottom-up approach, allowing cross-border cooperation practitioners to voice the obstacles they face when working on projects with neighbouring countries. These challenges are then analysed by legal experts including even CESCI lawyers, who not only examine the issues but also propose practical solutions.
The success of the project is evident in its continuation through several phases, with the possibility of soon entering a new phase:
- b-solutions 1.0 (2018-2021 with 90 cases), focused on identifying legal and administrative challenges and providing expert advice to public bodies and cross-border entities to address these barriers. Through a series of calls for proposals, pilot actions were launched, enabling stakeholders to develop innovative solutions to these obstacles, with a strong emphasis on a bottom-up approach.
- Building on the success of the first phase, b-solutions 2.0 (2022-2024 with 78 collected cases, out of which 75 were published) supported further cases involving additional cross-border practitioners and local actors. This phase continued the mission to identify sustainable methods for overcoming border obstacles, offering tailored advice and promoting smoother cooperation between neighbouring regions.
- The possibility of b-solutions 3.0 (2024-2026 with further 60 expected cases) signals the initiative’s continued relevance and commitment to fostering cross-border collaboration, demonstrating its impact as a crucial tool for reducing barriers and enhancing connectivity across European borders.
The Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) published four compendiums on the results of the b-solutions initiative. These documents address legal and administrative obstacles affecting cross-border cooperation, offering insights through detailed analysis of real-life cases and solutions to improve interactions between neighbouring regions across Europe. So far a total of 13 of the cases processed by CESCI experts were included in these publications.
By clicking on the title pages below, you can read a detailed description of each publication (including the cases on which our association’s experts worked), as well as view the compendiums in English.
First b-solutions collection
CESCI was also involved in the preparation of the first compendium of the B-solutions project, published by AEBR presenting the results of 43 case studies collected in the first two calls of the project. CESCI analysed a specific problem linked to cross-border share of municipal management services faced by Arrabona EGTC.
Second b-solutions collection
CESCI has been involved in the second compendium of recent cases from the b-solutions project, coordinated by AEBR, which presents the experiences and lessons learned of local actors in border regions from 2020 and 2021 through 47 cases. CESCI has identified the legal background of five obstacles and has developed proposals to address them.
Third b-solutions collection
In 2024, the b-solutions project, coordinated by the AEBR, published a new compendium of legal obstacles identified with the support of the project, the third in the series. CESCI staff worked on two of the 41 cases included in this publication, which cover the period between 2022 and 2023.
Fourth b-solutions collection
In the framework of the b-solutions project coordinated by the AEBR, the fourth collection was published in the second half of 2024, which briefly describes the legal background of 34 obstacles and summarises the results of further negotiations on 9 additional cases. Of the 43 cases included in the publication, five belonged to CESCI experts.
Our organisation actively contributed to the resolution of several cross-border obstacles, providing expert analysis and proposing solutions to improve cooperation between neighbouring regions. Below, you can explore the specific cases we worked on within the framework of b-solutions.
Our case published in the first compendium
Cross-border share of municipal management services
Advised entity: Arrabona EGTC
Municipalities across the Hungarian-Slovakian border encountered difficulties in setting up the joint procurement of machines for the maintenance of public spaces in the framework if the Interreg project “Builcogreen“. After an analysis of the national provisions of both countries, CESCI’s team clarified that there are no legal obstacles to the purchase, transport and operation of the vehicles that the municipalities are willing to acquire. The experts’ report points out that the uncertainties of the EGTC arose mainly due to a lack of knowledge of the current EU legal framework, which instead contains provisions that facilitate the operation of vehicles in all the Member States.
Our cases published in the second compendium
Legal status of a branch office of an EGTC in the partner country
Advised entity: Via Carpatia EGTC
The EGTC tool has been launched in order to avoid useless duplication of border structures and to create unified cross-border bodies. Compared with earlier models (like euroregions), the EGTC (in theory) may act on behalf of its members as an independent legal entity on either side of the border.
Unlike theory, practice generates two basic problems:
- The acknowledgment of the EGTCs as autonomous actors in the partner country is not automatic and it is very limited. It means that the EGTC may act independently in the country where its registered office is located but on the other side of the border its operations are hindered by administrative obstacles.
- Financial support for EGTCs at EU or national level is lacking or one-sided. The Hungarian government offers financial support to the EGTCs involving Hungarian members. The Via Carpatia has a Hungarian member but its registered office is located in Slovakia. Therefore, it cannot be supported directly by the Hungarian government.
Cross-border staffing difficulties – ambiguous application of social and health insurance regulations
Advised entity: Ister-Granum EGTC
People living in the Slovak – Hungarian border region and working parallel in both countries face multiple administrative challenges, as the two countries have different social security systems. The project focuses on the following problems:
- there is a certain waiting period to avail certain benefits in the country of the new job, or
- the worker should have to pay contributions in two countries, or, to the contrary, they should not be subjects to the obligation to pay contributions to the social security in either country, or
- the workers could lose their legal relation of social security in the country of their previous job, and they should have to pay contributions in the country in which they intend to spend less time, therefore they have no chance of access to benefits.
Coorcurity: facilitating the coordination of social security systems for cross-border workers and pensioners
Advised entity: Arrabona EGTC
Inspite of the EU’s well founded framework, the process of transferring someone’s social security or pension from Hungary to another EU member state or the other way around proves to be an unnecessarily arduous and lengthy process.This question receives very little attention. In the Hungarian-Slovak border region nearly 20.000 people cross the border to work on the other side and more than 2.000 people living in Slovakia are entitled for Hungarian pension and their number is growing with every year. The problem so far has been only detected by the individuals affected by it and the organisations -such as the EGTC – to whom they turn to for help. An overall cross-border institutional cooperation is needed.
Tour guide practice and their activity on both sides of the Hungarian and Croatian border
Advised entity: Mura Region EGTC
The Hungarian-Croatian border section is especially rich in natural heritage elements. Built on this asset, in line with the current slow, green, active and eco-friendly tourism trends, the tourism offers built on kayak and canoe tours can be a driving force of the regional green economy.However, currently the status of tour operators who organise trips on the border river, Mura, is quite unsettled. This shortage raises questions such as which country should conduct the investigation if an accident happens during a kayak tour at the shared fluvial border? Under what legal and administrative rules and regulations can a tour guide practice their activities on both sides of the border? Who is responsible for harmonizing these issues? Consequently, the creation of a harmonized and coordinated background system for cross-border tour operators would be very beneficial for the local economy built on tourism.
Analysis of legislative borders in employment, especially in the agricultural field
Advised entity: Gate to Europe EGTC
The territory of the Gate to Europe EGTC totally includes 35 local authorities along the Romanian-Hungarian border. The territory is characterised by small cities and villages and the basic economic sector of the area is the agriculture.
Different Romanian and Hungarian regulations are used regarding to the trade of local products. Different Romanian and Hungarian regulations are applied for the farmers coming from the other side of the border. The procedure of crossing the border is difficult and administrative obstacles can be identified. Different Romanian and Hungarian regulations are used to obtain the trading permits by the farmers. Administrative obstacles: presence of the language knowledge gaps, especially for the Hungarian citizens.
Our cases published in the third compendium
Ambulance service across the Schengen border
Advised entity: DKMT Euroregion
Due to the fact that neither Serbia nor Romania are members of the Schengen zone, the border control of persons is still in effect. The current status of the borders and the long queues emerging at the border crossing points especially when the western European workers are returning home, generate difficulties for cross-border emergency care as border control is mandatory even for persons involved in emergency care or the transport of injured patients. Not having an agreement ruling these cases, the loss of time due to the border and, in the case of Serbia, even customs controls create insurmountable hindrances against fast interventions. Control at the border cannot be avoided even when transporting a patient in a critical situation. The obstacles related to the topic cannot be eliminated but through a systematic process and uniting the capacities of the regional ambulance services. Accordingly, there is a need for going beyond the legal barriers and building cooperation and mutual trust between the stakeholders through regular encounters, joint rescue exercises, exchanges and joint projects.
Report availability: Report case 108: Ambulance service across the Schengen border
Comparison of water tourism regulations on the Slovakian-Hungarian border
Advised entity: Arrabona EGTC
While the Hungarian side of the Danube is already an extensive active tourist region, the Slovak side is currently under development which leaves room for many common developments. The potential for this development is underpinned by a number of factors, such as the region’s outstanding natural assets, the proximity of major cities (Bratislava, Győr, Vienna) and the interest and activity of a number of existing active tourism service providers. At the same time, the availability of active cross-border tourism products (bi-directional hiking trails, tours) is stilllimited. In order to develop such leisure activities, the establishment of an international system of safe, predictable, high-quality services is an urgent objective. For which the state of the national regulations underpinning them and their harmonisation must be examined, not least because practical experience shows that the regulations for water tours in Slovakia differ from those in Hungary.
Report availability: Report case 129: Comparison of water tourism regulations on the SK-HU border
Our cases published in the fourth compendium
Cross-border employment at the Croatian-Hungarian borders
Advised entity: Pannon EGTC
Even though the free movement of employees was introduced more than 10 years ago, in practice there are significant obstacles and uncertainty when it comes to people being employed in one country but living and working from the other. These issues are raised from the perspective of employment, tax and social and pension contributions regulations as there are no comprehensible agreements between Hungary and Croatia on how to handle these matters. This lack of clarity is causing problems in movement of workforce, as seen with two Croatian nationals working for Pannon EGTC, and finally results in decreased search and employment of foreign employees on both sides of the borders.
Report availability: Report case 122: Cross-border employment at the Croatian-Hungarian borders
Conservation of biodiversity on the Mura River
Advised entity: Mura Region EGTC
The report was initiated by the Mura Region EGTC with the aim of providing a fundamental overview of the Hungarian and Croatian environmental regulations affecting the Mura River, examining possible legal obstacles of a cross-border nature and the need for legal harmonisation. The main question of the interviews related to the legislative analysis was whether it is necessary or possible to harmonise the Hungarian and Croatian national regulations or whether the current regulatory system is sufficient to maintain the conservation of the protected areas.
Report availability: Report case 139: Conservation of biodiversity on the Mura River
Analysis of cross-border obstacles in field of trade of local agricultural products
Advised entity: Pannon EGTC
The main objective of the project is to outline possible solutions that will simplify access to fresh, local products for people on both sides of the border in the short and/or long term, while providing a framework for producers’ marketing opportunities. As Hungary and Croatia both support local products and family farms, their regulations are based on very similar principles, so there is a need to find a common basis for food hygiene and food safety rules that currently only regulate the sale of larger (industrial/commercial) quantities of products.
Tour guide practice and their activity on both sides of the Hungarian and Croatian border
Advised entity: Mura Region EGTC
Hungary and Croatia place great emphasis on the development of active tourism; subsequently, it is clear that the success of tourism development will attract more and more hikers. Problems arising from the lack of training, liability insurance and possible accidents lead to litigation that might negatively affect tourism. The question of liability of the water tour operators from both countries is not clear to law enforcers and market participants. The fragmentation and obsolescence of the existing legislation is a serious problem. While 30 years ago, the Navigational Code met the requirements of that time (1 boat type, 1 type of vest); however, new technologies are used during water trips in our times. Currently, water police cannot act on the basis of a specific rule, hence they freely interpret the obsolete provisions of the Navigational Code or they decide on the basis of customary law.
Analysis of cross-border obstacles in field of trade of local agricultural products
Advised entity: Gate to Europe EGTC
Agriculture is an important factor in employment and value production in the Hungarian-Romanian border region. By approximating national regulations currently under amendment, strengthening cooperation between authorities, and providing bilingual information, a process can begin that will support the restoration of economic relations that were vibrant in previous centuries. At present, the border section concerned is
an “external border” of the Schengen Zone, which makes cross-border trade in goods, including local products, difficult due to strict border controls.
Our cases not yet published
Comparison of fishing rules on border rivers
Advised entity: Mura Region EGTC
The Mura and the Drava are border rivers between Croatia and Hungary. Although Croatia’s accession to the Schengen area in 2023 will facilitate shore fishing and the use of lift nets and boats, these activities are regulated separately in both countries and experience has shown that national regulations need to be approximated and coordinated.
Videos
Launch of the call for b-solutions Pilot Actions
CESCI continues to support the b-solutions initiative to overcome legal and administrative obstacles to cross-border cooperation. A new call for ...
Recent B-solutions projects on water tourism
CESCI has compiled a study and organised a conference within the framework of the B-Solutions project coordinated by the Association ...
b-solutions: Online info session
The Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) will host an online info session on Wednesday 28 June (11:30-12:15, CEST) to ...
A day dedicated to local products
CESCI, together with the Mura Region EGTC and the Pannon EGTC, organised a professional event on the cross-border trade of ...
Local products, sustainable and flexible regional food systems & cross-border cooperation
The central theme of the 2023 milestone of the Oradea Process is local products, as well as sustainable and flexible ...
Tackling cross-border challenges – seminar on legal and administrative obstacles at the Committee of the Regions
On 17 April 2023, together with the members of the European Cross-Border Citizens’ Alliance, the Committee of the Regions (CoR) ...
Ambulance services cooperation in the DKMT Euroregion: Another B-Solutions assessment carried out by CESCI
In the framework of the B-Solutions initiative, jointly launched by the European Commission and the Association of European Border Regions ...
Határtalanul (Without borders) event in Nyíradony
On 9 March 2023, the Gate to Europe EGTC organised an event called “Without borders: the meeting of member settlements ...
B-solutions promotion event
AEBR and CESCI jointly organised a workshop on 1st February 2023, in order to present the latest calls for proposals ...
The b-solutions 2.0 call for proposals is open until 21 October
b-solutions is an initiative of the European Commission’s DG REGIO and the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) addressing local ...
A new call for b-solutions 2.0 was released
The initiative of the European Commission and AEBR called b-solutions has entered a new phase. The current call is open ...
b-solutions nominated to the European Ombudsman’s Good Governance Award
B-solutions was also nominated for the European Ombudsman's Good Governance Award. The project, designed to remove legal and administrative barriers ...
B-Solutions professional meeting
On 31 January, as invited expert, we participated at the professional meeting of the B- Solutions programme dealing with cross-border ...
Working group meeting to dismantle cross-border obstacles
The 9th meeting of the working group on innovative solutions for cross-border obstacles, was held in the building of the ...